Salman Khurshid compares China with ATM machine

LONDON: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today compared a "business like" China to an ATM machine while he described India as a "softly-softly" nation which stressed on long-term development partnerships.

Speaking at the first-ever India Day at Oxford University, Khurshid in reference to the theme of the event, 'India - A political economy for the 21st Century' described India as a "softly-softly" nation.

"Sometimes it is said that maybe India is not assertive enough. But a softly-softly approach leads to the desired change, without upheavals. We do not assert ourselves by intruding, dictating or imposing. It is an approach that has worked for us in the region (South Asia) and globally," said the minister.

"To some extent India's engagement with the world is also dictated by its culture. An important part of our foreign policy is that development partnerships come first. China is much more business-like; an ATM cash-in and leave. India has a longer haul approach," he added.

India and China, the world's two most populous and fastest developing countries, are competing with each other in their search for resources and new markets.